oh sweet pea my lips are fat with your poison fat with your skin pressed the pressing of skin is a precious thing and so are your soiled words hushed against my neck against my neck I use my breasts to brace for efficiency they hold more than milk you leak nightshade all over my sheets all over my skin the muscle of your hands the bend of my muscle under your hands fingertips like oleander petals and I am sleep love drunk rolled in flannel the fire escape moon silhouette on my thighs on my thighs on this skin love like luck could be a myth and me a drowning siren

my mouth smolders fat slow pillows of milky smoke rising from my swollen gums— the stretch of jaundice over my chicklet teeth, the wait of it all— char is coming and yet but wait the romantic sin stick pushed taught with tea leaves (yes tea leaves) my mouth is full of awake and anger— the angst of chapped lips resenting, purged of adultery and ache